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American Planning Association

EIN 52-1296735 · Honolulu, HI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION IS ORGANIZED TO ADVANCE THE ART AND SCIENCE OF PLANNING AND TO FOSTER THE ACTIVITY OF PLANNING - PHYSICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL - AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS. THE APA IS A NON-PROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING 37,000 PRACTICING PLANNERS, OFFICIALS, AND CITIZENS INVOLVED WITH URBAN AND RURAL PLANNING ISSUES.SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT OF APA'S MEMBERS ARE EMPLOYED BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THESE MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED, ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, IN FORMULATING PLANNING POLICIES AND PREPARING LAND USE REGULATIONS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO ENCOURAGE PLANNING THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC WELL-BEING BY DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AND OF SOCIETY MORE EFFECTIVELY.

Income
$34,072
Spending
$25,976
Reserves
105 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $20,266 spent. OUR MAIN PROGRAM SERVICE IS THE HAWAI'I CONGRESS OF PLANNING OFFICIALS (HCPO) STATEWIDE PLANNING CONFERENCE FOR PLANNERS AND RELATED PROFESSIONS, HELD ONCE A YEAR ON DIFFERENT ISLAND EACH YEAR. TRACKING DOWN OUR REVENUE/COSTS AND WILL UPLOAD.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1983.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.